(1) The Washington auto theft prevention authority account is created in the state treasury, subject to appropriation. Revenues consist of deposits to the account under RCW 48.14.020(1)(b) and all receipts from gifts, grants, bequests, devises, or other funds from public and private sources to support the activities of the auto theft prevention authority must be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for activities relating to motor vehicle theft, including education, prevention, law enforcement, investigation, prosecution, and confinement.

(2) The authority shall allocate moneys appropriated from the account to public agencies for the purpose of establishing, maintaining, and supporting programs that are designed to prevent motor vehicle theft, including:

(a) Financial support to prosecution agencies to increase the effectiveness of motor vehicle theft prosecution;

(b) Financial support to a unit of local government or a team consisting of units of local governments to increase the effectiveness of motor vehicle theft enforcement;

(c) Financial support for the procurement of equipment and technologies for use by law enforcement agencies for the purpose of enforcing motor vehicle theft laws; and

(d) Financial support for programs that are designed to educate and assist the public in the prevention of motor vehicle theft.

(3) The costs of administration shall not exceed 10 percent of the moneys in the account in any one year so that the greatest possible portion of the moneys available to the authority is expended on combating motor vehicle theft.

(4) Prior to awarding any moneys from the Washington auto theft prevention authority account for motor vehicle theft enforcement, the auto theft prevention authority must verify that the financial award includes sufficient funding to cover proposed activities.

(5) Moneys expended from the Washington auto theft prevention authority account under subsection (2) of this section shall be used to supplement, not supplant, other moneys that are available for motor vehicle theft prevention.

(6) Grants provided under subsection (2) of this section constitute reimbursement for purposes of RCW 43.135.060(1).

Findings—Intent—Effective date—2023 c 388: See notes following RCW 46.63.110.

Effective dates—2015 3rd sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW 28B.15.069.

Effective dates—2013 2nd sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW 2.68.020.

Effective dates—2011 1st sp.s. c 50: See note following RCW 15.76.115.

Effective date—2011 c 5: See note following RCW 43.79.487.

Effective date—2009 c 564: See note following RCW 2.68.020.